DiscipleshipoftheEasterJesus(Mark16:1-8)

TheResurrectionofJesus16WhentheSabbathwasover,MaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJames,andSalomeboughtspices,sothattheymightgoandanointhim.2Andveryearlyonthefirstdayoftheweek,whenthesunhadrisen,theywenttothetomb.3Theyhadbeensayingtooneanother,‘Whowillrollawaythestoneforusfromtheentrancetothetomb?’4Whentheylookedup,theysawthatthestone,whichwasverylarge,hadalreadybeenrolledback.5Astheyenteredthetomb,theysawayoungman,dressedinawhiterobe,sittingontherightside;andtheywerealarmed.6Buthesaidtothem,‘Donotbealarmed;youarelookingforJesusofNazareth,whowascrucified.Hehasbeenraised;heisnothere.Look,thereistheplacetheylaidhim.7Butgo,tellhisdisciplesandPeterthatheisgoingaheadofyoutoGalilee;thereyouwillseehim,justashetoldyou.’8Sotheywentoutandfledfromthetomb,forterrorandamazementhadseizedthem;andtheysaidnothingtoanyone,fortheywereafraid.

TheShorterEndingofMark

[[AndallthathadbeencommandedthemtheytoldbrieflytothosearoundPeter.AndafterwardsJesushimselfsentoutthroughthem,fromeasttowest,thesacredandimperishableproclamationofeternalsalvation.]]

TheLongerEndingofMark

JesusAppearstoMaryMagdalene9[[Nowafterheroseearlyonthefirstdayoftheweek,heappearedfirsttoMaryMagdalene,fromwhomhehadcastoutsevendemons.10Shewentoutandtoldthosewhohadbeenwithhim,whiletheyweremourningandweeping.11Butwhentheyheardthathewasaliveandhadbeenseenbyher,theywouldnotbelieveit.

JesusAppearstoTwoDisciples12Afterthisheappearedinanotherformtotwoofthem,astheywerewalkingintothecountry.13Andtheywentbackandtoldtherest,buttheydidnotbelievethem.

JesusCommissionstheDisciples14Laterheappearedtotheeleventhemselvesastheyweresittingatthetable;andheupbraidedthemfortheirlackoffaithandstubbornness,becausetheyhadnotbelievedthosewhosawhimafterhehadrisen.15Andhesaidtothem,‘Gointoalltheworldandproclaimthegoodnewstothewholecreation.16Theonewhobelievesandisbaptizedwillbesaved;buttheonewhodoesnotbelievewillbecondemned.17Andthesesignswillaccompanythosewhobelieve:byusingmynametheywillcastoutdemons;theywillspeakinnewtongues;18theywillpickupsnakesintheirhands,andiftheydrinkanydeadlything,itwillnothurtthem;theywilllaytheirhandsonthesick,andtheywillrecover.’

TheAscensionofJesus19SothentheLordJesus,afterhehadspokentothem,wastakenupintoheavenandsatdownattherighthandofGod.20Andtheywentoutandproclaimedthegoodnewseverywhere,whiletheLordworkedwiththemandconfirmedthemessagebythesignsthataccompaniedit.]](Translation©LawrenceMoore,MarkforMissionalDisciples,WalkingtheWalkPublications,2018)

Thefaithfulwomendisciples

MaryMagdalene,MarythemotherofJames(and,presumably,Jesus),andSalome

cometothetombatfirstlight.MarkcontraststhemwithPeter,JamesandJohn–

thethreemaledisciplesthataresoconspicuousbytheirabsence.InGethsemane,

Jesus,inthedeepestpossibledistress,takesthemwithhimtosharehismomentof

aguishandtesting.Heasksthemtwiceto“keepawake”;thisissomethingthathe

mustdoalone,butasksthemtwiceto“keepawake”–ieto“keepwatch/keep

company”(14:34,38).Theydononotkeepwatch,butsleepinstead.

Bycontrast,Marktwiceemphasisesthatthewomen“keepwatch”:theykeepwatch

duringthecrucifixion(15:40)andwatchJesus’burialandthesealingofthetomb

(15:47).Markemphasisesthatthey“keepwatch”byconstructinghiscrucifixion

narrativeoverthethreeRomanwatches:9am,12noonand3pm.

TheyhavebeenpreventedfromanointingJesus’bodyforburialproperlybyboththe

Sabbathandthestone.Theserepresentthetragedyandapparenthopelessnessof

thisendingtoJesus’mission:Pilate(Rome)hasauthorisedtheburial;theSanhedrin

hasnotevenaffordedtheLordoftheSabbathaproperburialinorderthatSabbath

observanceisn’tviolated.TheworldorderofEmpireapparentlyremainsintact.

ThehintofNewCreation(16:2)

Thereisthebaresthintthatsomethingradical–agame-changer–hashappenedin

Mark’snarrative.Thisisanewweek.Theoldweek,sealedbyJesus’deathandthe

Sabbath,hasbeenbroughttoaclose.TheSabbathorder–a6-dayweekfollowed

bytheSabbath–ismodelledontheGenesiscreationnarrative.ThiswasGod’s

orderforhumanliving:anorderthatwasmeantforthelife,blessingandflourishing

ofhumankind.IntheworldofEmpire,ithasinsteaddelivereddeathand

godforsakenness.TheSabbathnighthasbeenthesealofdarknessanddeath.

Thewomenarrive“veryearlywhenthesunhadrisen”.IsthisaMarkanpun–

“sunrise/Sonrise”?IsMarkdeliberatelyevokingthecreationstory–whenthecosmic

darknessofchaosisshatteredbyGodcreatinglight?Isthereanewstorytobe

written,arisingoutoftheashesoftheold?

“Whomovedthestone?”(16:3-4)

TheseversesweretheinspirationforFrankMorison’sclassic,WhoMovedthe

Stone?MarktellsusthatthewomenreturntothetombonEasterSundayexpecting

thateverythingwouldbeastheyhadleftit.Theirquestionastheywalkisvery

personal:“Whowillrollawaythestoneforus?”TheeventsofEasterSundayarefor

thedisciples.DiscipleshipoftheEasterJesusisnotaboutfaithfullyattendinga

martyr’stomb;itwillprovetobesomethingfarmoreradicalandchallenging.

TheyarrivetofindthestonerolledawayandthetombemptyofJesus’body.We

arenottoldwhomovedthestoneandhow.Mark’snarrativedoesnotrecountwhat

hadhappenedearlier;thestonehasbeenmovedandthewomenaretoldonly,“He

hasbeenraised”(16:6).Whileitisclearthattheanswertothe“who”questionis

God,Mark’semphasisisonthefactthatthemovingofthestoneandtheraisingof

Jesushavealreadyhappened.Thewomenarelatecomersonthescene.Theywill

notseetherisenJesusatthetomb–“heisnothere”;hehasalreadygoneaheadof

themtoGalilee,wherehewillbewaitingforthem(16:7).

TheabsenceofJesus:anewstoryhasbegun

MarkshowsnoapparentinterestinJesus’experienceofEasterSunday.Thereare

noresurrectionappearances;noencounterswiththedisciples;noteachingonwhat

theresurrectionmeans,orhowittiesinwithallthathasgonebefore–no

equivalentofLuke’sEmmausRoad,Matthew’sGreatCommissioning,orJohn’s

restorationofPeter,inotherwords.Jesus,whohasbeensocloselythefocusof

Mark’spassionnarrative,andwhosebodyhasbeensomuchafocalpoint,isnow

simply“nothere”.HehasalreadyleftforGalilee.

Mark’sEasterstoryisn’taresolutiontohisaccountofwhathasgonebefore.Thisis

notsomedramaticdénouement,inwhichhetiesupallthelooseendsandanswers

allthereaders’questions.Whatismoststrikingispreciselytheabsenceofthissort

ofcontinuitywithwhathasgonebefore,signifiedbytheabsenceoftherisenJesus.

TheresurrectionofJesusisnotalast-secondrabbitthatMarkpullsoutofthehat.It

isnotsomesortof“happyending”tohisearlierstory;thatstoryended–itwas

sealedwithJesus’bodyinthetomb.Thisisanewstory.ItisanewstoryofJesus–

theresurrectedJesus–andithasalreadybegunforhim.Hehasleftthesceneof

thelaststory.Thenewstoryisnotsituatedinthegarden,amongthewreckageof

the“oldstory”.

ThisnewstoryofJesusisalreadyimpliedpreciselybyhisabsence.Markflagsit,but

thatisall.Instead,hisentirefocusisonthedisciples.Howwilltheyrespond?This

isbecausethenewstoryfocusesonthedisciples.Itwillbewrittenbythemintheir

responsetothecalloftherisenJesustofollowhim.

Theencounterwiththe“youngman,dressedinawhiterobe”(16:5)

Thewomenencountera“youngman,dressed(literally“wrapped”)inawhite

robe.HeisneithertheangelofMathew’sstory,northetwomenin“dazzling

clothes”ofLuke’s,whoinboththosestories“appearsuddenly”.NordoesMarktell

usabouttheneatlyrolledlinengracewrappings(asJohndoes).

Wehaveseenthis“youngman”before:heisthemysteriousfigure,presentwiththe

disciplesatJesus’arrest,whoseloinclothisseizedbyaguard,andwhofleesfrom

Gethsemane,naked(14:51-52).Heisotherwiseunnamedandunidentified.

IsthisstretchingMark’ssymbolandimagerytoofar?ItmaybethatMarkhassimply

recordedanincident;therewasanunidentifiedyoungmanwhowasthereandwho

fled,andofwhomweknownothingelse.Oritcouldbethattheyoungmanis

actuallyMarkhimself,assomeChristiantraditionhassuggested.ButMarkdoesnot

introducerandomcharactersintohisnarrativewithoutpurpose;similarly,his

passionnarrativeissaturatedinsymbol,aswehavediscovered.TheGethsemane

storyfocusesonTheTwelvewhohadbeenwithhimatthePassovermeal,andwho

hadprotestedtheirloyaltyvehemently.Thereisnomentionofanyoneelsepresent

atthemeal,leastofall,theyoungman.Yetheappearsmysteriouslyandisincluded

inthestoryofJesus’ultimatedesertionbythedisciples.Andnow,onEasterSunday,

wehavetheappearanceofanothermysterious“youngman”.Itisdifficultnotto

hearimmediateechoesoftheGethsemaneincident–particularlybecauseMark

againmakesafeatureofhisclothing.

Aswesawalready,ChedMyerssuggests,compellingly,thatweoughttoseethis

“youngman”asasymbolofthedisciples.AtGethsemane,hefleeswiththe

disciples,leavingbehindhisloincloth.Heembodiesthefaithlessnessofthe

communityofhisdisciples.Jesusis“wrapped”(clothed)inalinengrave-clothby

Joseph.OfthisthereisnosignonEastermorning(compareJohn’snarrativeatJohn

20:6-7);instead,theyoungmanis“wrapped”inalongwhitecloth,recallingMark’s

descriptionofJesus’robebecoming“dazzlingwhite”atthetransfiguration

(9:3).Whiterobeshad,bythetimeMarkwrote,becomethesymbolofChristian

martyrs.

Weoughttoseetheclothingsymbolisingdiscipleship,inotherwords:theyoung

man’sloinclothinGethsemanethatisleftbehindsothathecanfleerepresentsthe

faithlessnessofthedisciplesandtheirrefusaltowalktheWayofthe

Cross.Narratively,itisthesameclothpurchasedbyJosephinwhichhewrapsthe

crucifiedJesusinordertodisposeofhiminunseemlyhasteasan(unholy)actof

Sabbathobservance.Now,onEasterSunday,theyoungmanagainrepresents

discipleship–discipleshipoftheJesuswhosenewstoryhasalreadybegun.Butthis

time,heisdressedinJesus’graveclothes,whichhavebecomeforhisfollowersa

martyr’srobe.

Thethirdcalltofollow(16:6-8)

MarkpresentsEasterSundayasthethirdcalltofollowJesus.Thefirstisbythe

lakeside(“FollowmeandIwillmakeyoufishforpeople”);thesecondatCaesarea

Philippi(“Denyyourself,takeupyourcrossandfollowme”).Inthetombthatis

emptyofJesus,thewomen,whohavefollowedJesusfaithfullytothecross(theend

ofthatdiscipleshipstory)nowhearJesus’thirdcalltofollowtherisenJesus.Three

pointsneedtobenoted:

1. Theyhearitfromthe“youngmaninwhite”,whorepresentswhat

discipleshipoftherisenJesuswillmean(iemartyrdom).Thisisthecallto

walktheWayoftheCrossfaithfully,insteadofabandoningit/Jesus.

2. Theyaretoldto“tellthedisciplesandPeter”.Hereistheclearestindication

thattheEasterstoryisanewstoryofdiscipleship.Markhasportrayedthe

collapseofthecommunityofdisciplesintwostages:thedisciples’flightand

Peter’sdenial.Theyoungmannowissuesthethirdcalltofollowintwo

stages:“GoandtellthedisciplesandPeter”.Thisisthecalltothesame

discipleswhohavefailedJesussospectacularly.Theresurrectionofthe

crucifiedJesusmeansthattheirfailurewillnotbethelastwordinthestory

ofdiscipleship.Iftheywillhearandrespond,thereisanewopportunityto

shareinthenewstoryofJesus.

3. TheyaretogobacktoGalilee,whereitallstarted.Thisiswheretheywillsee

therisenJesus.Theresurrectionisnota“happyending”tothestoryMark

hastold,butthebeginningofanewstoryofdiscipleship:thestoryisstarting

alloveragain.

Terrorandamazement:thereactionofthewomen(16:8)

Theabruptendingofthegospelat16:8haspuzzledanddisturbedMark’sreaders

sincethebeginning.Indeed,sounsatisfactoryandoffensivehasitseemedthattwo

laterendingswereaddedIlatermanuscripts(16:8band16:9-20).Thereisnodoubt,

however,thatneitherofthesewereintendedorwrittenbyMark.

Arecurringargumenthasbeenthattherewasoriginallyalongerendingtothe

gospelthathasbeenlost.NTWrightmakeswhatispossiblythemostcredible

defenceofthisthesis(TheResurrectionoftheSonofGod,chapter14).Twopoints

countcompellinglyagainstit:

1. Ifitisthecasethattheendinghasbeenlost,wecannotreconstructit(as

Wrightandothersdo)andthenuseitasabasisforourreadingoftheclosing

versesofMark’sstory.Quitesimply,thatisnotthestorythatwehave.Nor

isimportingorassuminganendingsimilartothatoftheothergospelssafe;

wehavealreadyseen,fromwhatwedohave,thatMarktellshisownstory

verydifferently,withdifferentemphases.

2. Theassumptionofalostendingderivesfromtheabruptnessand

unlikelihoodoftheending:Markrecordsonlytheterrorandamazementof

thewomen,theirfailureto“tellthedisciplesandPeter”,andthefactthatwe

donotknowwhathappenedasaresult–whether“thedisciplesandPeter”

“heardandfollowed”.Yetwehaveseenthattheentirethrustofthestoryat

thispointistopresentEasterSundayasanewstoryofJesusthathasalready

begunforhim;thequestioniswhatpartthediscipleswillplayinit.

“Terrorandamazement”areperfectlycredibleresponsestotheeventsthatthe

womenwitness.BotharetermsusedbyMarktodescribehumanresponsesto

demonstrationofpowersbeyondtheircontrol–storms,exorcisms,thethreatof

death,miracles,thetransfiguration.This“newstory”isterrifyingandamazing:itis

anactofGod–ofre-creation–thattakesthemintoentirelynew

territory.Moreover,itisareasonableresponsetothecalltofollowJesus,given

whattheyhavecometounderstandwhat“takingupthecross”means.Itfindsit

echointhereactionofMark’sownreaders,facedwiththequestionofwhat

discipleshipofJesusmeansinthecontextoftheGreatRevolt.

Theunfinishedstory:anewstoryofdiscipleship

Wedonotknowhowthestoryends–orrather,begins–becauseMarkdoesnottell

us.Butthisissurelypreciselyhispoint:Markwantshiscommunity(whoknows

whathappened“afewminuteslater”afterhisstoryends)toputthemselvesinthe

shoesofthedisciples–thefirstchurch–onthatearlyEastermorning.Mark’sown

communityishanginginthebalanceofwhethertosellouttotheRomans,embrace

themessianiccalltoarmsoftherebelrecruiters,orfollowtheJesuswhodid

neither,butdidnotsavehimself.Jesus’prioritywasnothissurvival.Facedwiththe

calltofollowbyayoungmanwhoisdressedasamartyr;facedwiththepowerof

Rome,ontheonehand,andthepowerofresurrectionontheother,terrorand

amazementarebothcompletelyreasonableresponses!

Wemakeahugemistakeifweassumethat“resurrection”inthecontextofthisthird

calltodiscipleshipisasourceofcomfort.Resurrectiondoesnotmeanthatwecan

avoidtheconfrontationandsufferingofchangingtheworld;ifwearetofollowthe

crucifiedJesusfaithfully,theresurrectionmeansthatwecannotfleewhen

crucifixionlooms.GethsemanetellsusthatJesus’ownfaithinhisvindicationby

Godmeantthatthehorror,terroranddarknessoftheWayoftheCrosshadtobe

facedratherthanavoided;therewasnootherwayofbeingfaithful.Thatwillbe

equallytrueforanyofuswhoseektorespondtoJesus’calltofollow.AsDietrich

Bonhoeffersays,reflectingonMark16:8,“WhenChristcallsaperson,Hebidsthem

tocomeanddie”(TheCostofDiscipleship).

Mark’sunfinishednarrativeishismeansofemphasisingthatthenewstoryofJesus

thatbeginsevenearlieronEasterSundaythanthearrivalofthewomenatthetomb

isanewstoryofdiscipleship.Itisastorythathascontentandcredibilityonlytothe

extentthatthediscipleshearandrespond.Itisalways,ineveryageandcontext,a

“storywaitingtobewritten”bythechurch–thecommunityofdisciplesofJesus.

ThisisthepointthatMarklabours,andwhichisalwaysthemomentofdecisionfor

thechurch.Thechurchalwayshangsinthebalancebetweenbeingthefaithful

discipleswhoanswerthenewcalltotakeuptheircrossesandfollow,andthe

discipleswhoflee.EachofusasMark’sreaders–individuallyandcommunally–is

challengedtowalkJesusWaytotheKingdom–tobeavisibledemonstrationof

whattheKingdomis,ratherthanabaptisedversionofEmpire.Weareauthentically

thechurchtotheextentthatourlivesandactionscorrelatetothestoryofJesusthat

wetell.WearetoberecognisablylikeJesus–partoftheGoodNewswe

proclaim.Andwemayprovetobefaithless–tobepartoftheBadNewsfromwhich

theworldneedssaving.

Thatiswhatshouldcauseus“terrorandamazement”.ThecalloftherisenJesusto

followpresentsuswithanopportunitytofollowthatisasterrifyingasitis

wonderful.Itisnotacalltotakeuparmsandfight;itissomethingmore

difficult.TheWaythatJesuscallsustowalkisneverlesscostlythanthewayof

armedrevolt;thereisnocross-freeroadforfaithfuldisciples.Terror,amazement,a

timetodecidecarefully,witheyeswideopentowhatwearesigningupfor:Mark

intendsustounderstandthattheGoodNewsofJesus,theMessiah,theSonofGod,

isastorythatcanonlybewritteninthebloodofthechurch.

Goingdeeperintothetext(Mark16:1-8)

Likesomanyscenesfromthegospels,thisonehasbeenalltooromanticisedbythe

church.Itwouldhavebeenariskyactforthesewomentodemonstratesolidarity

withsonotoriousapoliticaldissident.Butitwashardlyatriumphantone.Thisdawn

broughtthemonlythenumbdutyoflastrespectsandthataching,inconsolable

emptinessthatcomesfromhopecrushed.Thisseemsmerelythelast,pitilesslegof

Mark'sdiscipleshipjourney,endingatthecemeteryofourdreamsforanewworld.

Cruelly,eventhetherapeuticritualofweepingoverJesus’corpseandmustering

braveeulogiesisdenied.Theentrancetothemakeshifttombissealedshutbya

boulderthat”wasverylarge"(16:4).Theyhaltintheirtracks,pulledupshort.”Who

willrollawaythisstone?"theycrytonooneinparticular(16:3).Thisstoneblocking

theirwayterminates,withoutexplanation,thediscipleshipjourney.Whatanabrupt

andbitterclosuretothestory!ButthereisonemoresceneinMark'sgospel,and

uponithingesthepossibilityoftheChristianchurch.

Thelastwordcamefromtheenigmaticmessenger:"Getup,gotellhisdisciplesand

Peterthathe'sgoingonaheadofyoutoGalilee.Thereyouwillseehim,ashetold

you”(1627).Thisyoungman,thesymbolofthetransformationfrombetrayal

(nakedness)todiscipleship(whiterobe)hasissuedthethirdcalltodiscipleship(see

1:17,8:34).Itisaprospectthewomen,thereader,neverconsidered.Ourknees

buckleatthisinvitationtoresumetheWay—fornowweknowitsconsequencesall

toowell.Fromdeepwithinus,fromthatunexploredspacebeneathourprofoundest

hopesandfears,roarsatidalwaveof"traumaandecstasy".Terrified,weracewith

thewomenoutofthattombasifwehavejustseenaghost.Andsowehave.Forin

Jesus’emptytombisnothingbuttheghostofourdiscipleshippastandour

discipleshipfuture.InEaster’sfirstlight,Mark'sstoryendsasitbegan:"Heisgoing

beforeyou..."(16:17)

WearepromisedthatwewillseeJesusagaininGalilee,whichiswherethedisciples

werefirstcalledtofollow!Thenarrativeiscircular!Thisepiloguepresentsuswith

themostdangerousofmemories,alivingone;themostsubversiveofstories,a

never-endingone.Mark'sresurrectiontraditionoffersnovisionsofgloryortriumph.

ItleavesusonlywithaGodwhohearsourbroken-heartedcriesbeforethestoneof

impediment,andwiththeexecuted-but-risen-Nazarenewhocallsustodiscipleship

asmanytimesasittakes.Thethirdcallisspecificallydirectedtothosewhose

discipleshipbecamemiredinthedead-endofdenial:"TellthedisciplesandPeter..."

(16:7).Thereisnowaywardjourneythatcannotberedeemedbynewbeginnings.

ThatiswhyDietrichBonhoefferinsistedthatthechurchmust"recoveratrue

understandingofthemutualrelationbetweengraceanddiscipleship.""Andthey

saidnothingtoanyone,fortheywereafraid"(16:28).Whatanambiguous

conclusion!

Thenarrativestrategyof"theysaidnothing"hassomethingelseinmind.Thegenius

ofthis"incomplete"ending,likeapaintinglackingthefinishingstroke,isthatit

demandsaresponsefromitsaudience.Markleavesusnotwithaneatresolution

butwithaterribleultimatum.Whowilltellthis"goodnews”?Foritisnotonlythe

womenwho"know",weknownowaswell.Ifwewishthestoryofdiscipleshipto

continue,wecannotremainmerespectators.Willwerespond?Ifwearehonest,we

willadmitthatthecrossissointimidating,andourblindnesssopervasive,thatwe

canonlyanswer,"Webelieve;helpusinourunbelief!”(9:24).Evenourbestefforts

atfaithfulnessseeminevitablytofounder.Butallthatispartofthestory,too.Forit

isatthepointoffailureandofdisillusionmentthattheinvitationcomesagain.Then

ourdiscipleshipjourneyeithertrulyendsortrulybegins.

"Toseeagain"isMark’smastermetaphorforafaiththatlooksmoredeeplyinto

realityinordertoseewhatcouldbe.Wemighttranslateitliterally:“torevision."In

Mark'sEasternarrative,thewearyoldstoryoftheworld,inwhichthepowers

alwayswinandthepooralwayslose,isradicallyrevised.Butwecan“see”thisonly

in“Galilee,”thesymbolicsiteofdiscipleship.Mark'sstorybeganinthewilderness,

farfromthecentresofpowerandprivilege.Tothatlocationthedisciplesareurged

toreturn.

"Thewomenlookedagainandfoundthatthestonehadbeenrolledaway"(16:4).

Wetooareinvitedtolookagainandseethatawayhasbeenopenedup—awaythat

carriesustowardlife.Awaywasopenedforthewomentopreparethebodyof

JesusandtofollowtherisenonetoGalilee.Awayhasbeenopenedforusaswellto

bindthewoundsofourworld.Inaplaceofdeath,anewbeginningisoffered.Asin

Peter'scase,ourfaileddiscipleshipcanberedeemedbygrace.

Deathandresurrection,brokennessandhealing,marginalisationandempowerment,

sinandreconciliation,injusticeandtransformationallshapetheverypatternofthe

Christianlife.Resurrectionisgratuitous-apure,unearnedgiftofGod.Itisthe

ultimatetestofandtheonlyhopeforadisciple'sfaith.Atthesametime,weare

calledbytheSpirittoekeouttheresurrectionbitbybit,stepbystepontheWay.

Sometimesourexperienceofresurrectionisgloriousandclear.Butmostoftenitis

thefruitoflong,painfullabour-birthed,butneedingtobenurtured.

ChedMeyersetal(1996)“SayittothisMountain”:Mark’sStoryofDiscipleship

Allageworshipideas(Mark16:1-8)

Oneofthekeystogoodallageworshipistokeepitsimpleandrelativelyshort.

Ideallyaimforaserviceof45-50minutes.That’snottosayaservicecan’tbelonger

butifyouarethinkingof1hr30+thinkcarefullyaboutyouruseofspaceandabove

allelsebecreative,takerisksandhavefun–partyingisintegraltothekingdombut

we’llleavethatforayearonLuke…

Reflection–theauthorofMark’sgospeliskeentopointoutthatJesuswasvery

opentohisfriendsthatthisjourneytheysharedwouldculminateinhisdyingand

rising.Oneachoccasionthedisciplesareconfusedandfailtounderstandlookingfor

metaphorratherthanliteralunderstanding.Nowpost-deaththeyhavehadtoface

thefactthatcertainlyintermsofhisdeathJesuswasright.Thechallengethatawaits

themnowiswhethertheycanacceptthewholepictureheforetoldandembracehis

‘rising’.

ThefigureinthetombinstructsthewomentotellJesusfriendstogoonandmeet

JesusinGalileeashesaid–anacknowledgementofJesus’wordsinMark14.

Afterthedevastationanddisappointmentofthecrucifixion,againstalloddsthe

‘Way’isbackon.Everythinghaschanged–andboththewomenandthedisciplesof

Jesushavetomakeadecisionabouthowtheywillrespond.

Thisisgame-changingforustodaybecausethechallengeoftheemptytombislikea

claxonforthechurchtoembracetheideaoftheimprobableandtheseemingly

impossible.ThingscanchangeforthebetterandwhenwefollowtheJesuswhohas

goneaheadofusandtrustinthehelpoftheSpirithesendswecanbeboththe

catalystandtheagentsofthatchange.

JeffGoldbluminthemovieJurassicParkdeliversthefamouslinewhenchallenging

RichardAttenborough’sbeliefthatthedinosaurscanbecontrolledandwillnot

breed‘Lifealwaysfindsaway’.Heisprovedright…

ThisisthesamemessageJesushasbeendrip-feedingintohisfriends–deathwill

happenbutlifewillfindawaybeyondit.Thisisourgoodnews.

Idea–Eitheruseaplaytentoraframe(clotheshorse/maiden)andcoveritwitha

sheettocreateamakeshifttomb.Createastonefromcardorusesomethinglikea

gymball.Inviteanyyoungoroldpeopletoenterintothetombandbringoutone

thingtheyfind.Insidehavereadystripsofclothwiththeversesbelowwrittenone

oneach(theycanbeanypreferredtranslationratherthanthosebelow)Onceallthe

versesarecollectedinvitetheholderstoreadthemout:

HethenbegantoteachthemthattheSonofManmustsuffermanythingsandbe

rejectedbytheelders,thechiefpriestsandtheteachersofthelaw,andthathemust

bekilledandafterthreedaysriseagain.Mark8.31

9Astheywerecomingdownthemountain,Jesusgavethemordersnottotell

anyonewhattheyhadseenuntiltheSonofManhadrisenfromthedead.10They

keptthemattertothemselves,discussingwhat“risingfromthedead”meant.Mark

9.9-10

Hesaidtothem,“TheSonofManisgoingtobedeliveredintothehandsofmen.

Theywillkillhim,andafterthreedayshewillrise.”Mark9.31

3“WearegoinguptoJerusalem,”hesaid,“andtheSonofManwillbedeliveredover

tothechiefpriestsandtheteachersofthelaw.Theywillcondemnhimtodeathand

willhandhimovertotheGentiles,34whowillmockhimandspitonhim,floghimand

killhim.Threedayslaterhewillrise.”

Mark10.33-35

27“Youwillallfallaway,”Jesustoldthem,“foritiswritten:

“‘Iwillstriketheshepherd,

andthesheepwillbescattered.’[a]28ButafterIhaverisen,IwillgoaheadofyouintoGalilee.”Mark14.27-28

Prayer–Goingawayfromthe‘mock’tombrolloutalengthofliningpaperaccording

tothenumberofpeopleinthecongregation.Havesomepaintsandrollerstohand

andinvitepeopletocomeandplacetheirfootprintsonthepaperalongwiththeir

nameasasignoftheirfirst,oron-going,commitmenttofollowJesusandbepartof

hisWay.

Havesomereadycutfeetforthosewhoareunabletodothepaintactivityandgive

themspacetoaddtheircut-outfootprintstothecollage.

Youcouldhavemusicplayingorsingsongslike‘Willyoucomeandfollowme?’

(R&S558);‘Today,Ichoose’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSOQQVvHwJI;‘

HereIamLord(ItheLordofseaandsky)’(MP857)

Liturgiesandhymns(Mark16:1-8)

Thisiswhereyoucanfindhymnsuggestionsandliturgiesforusewiththisweek's

text.

OpeningPrayerforEasterSunday

CreatorofLife,

inraisingChristJesus

up,through,outof,andbeyond

thechainsofdeath,

Youopenedforustheway

toeternalandabundantlife.

MayourAlleluiasonthisday

floathighabovetheceiling

ofwhatwethinkweknow

andtranscendtotheheavenof

whatwebelieve—

andthuslive.

Raiseusup!

Renewourlives!

Resurrectourdreams!

ThroughJesusChristourLivingSavior,

Amen.

~writtenbyKarenTurner,andpostedon

theLifewaywebsite.http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_LW_MaundyThur

sday.pdf

Wheneverythingwasdark

anditseemedthatthesunwouldnevershineagain,

yourlovebrokethrough.

Yourlovewastoostrong,

toowide,

toodeep

fordeathtohold.

Thesparkscastbyyourlove

danceandspread

andburstforth

withresurrectionlight.

GraciousGod,

wepraiseyouforthelightofnewlife

madepossiblethroughJesus.

Wepraiseyouforthelightofnewlife

thatshoneonthefirstwitnessesofresurrection.

Wepraiseyouforthelightofnewlife

thatcontinuestoshineinourheartstoday.

WepraythattheEasterlightoflife,hopeandjoy,

willliveinuseachday;

andthatwewillbebearersofthatlight

intothelivesofothers.

Amen.

MichaelaYoungson,SuperintendentMinisteroftheEalingTrinityCircuit,

TheimageatthetopofthispostisbyRichardLyall.Hehasmadethisimage

availablefornon-commercialuseinworship.

SalvationPrayer

Godwhocreatedussuffersbecauseofus

Godwhodieduponthecrosssuffersforus

Godwhodwellswithussufferswithus

AndinGod’ssufferingwefindhope

God,yoursufferingbringsussalvation

Withoutyouthehorrorsofhumansufferingwouldbeunbearable

Yourstoryoflife,deathandresurrectiongiveslifemeaning

Yoursufferingfreesusfromourprisons

Becauseofyoursufferinganewworldisbreakingintoours

Maywelivethisdayintheknowledgeofyourpain

Maywelivethisdayintheassuranceofyourlove

Maywelivethisdayinthehopeoftheresurrection.

Today.

(writtenbyChristineSine,andpostedon

theGodspacewebsite.http://godspace.wordpress.com/)

Prayer

LordJesus,

youstretchedoutyourarmsofloveonthehardwoodofthecross,

thatallpeoplemightcomewithinthereachofyoursavingembrace.

ClotheusinyourSpirit,thatwe,

stretchingoutourhandsinlovingserviceforothers,

maybringthosewhodonotknowyoutoanawarenessandloveofyou;

whowiththeFatherandtheHolySpiritliveandreign,

OneGodforever!Amen!

~C.H.Brent(1862-1929AD)

PrayerforOthersonEasterMorning

OGod,withfacestouchedbythelightofanewday,

andheartswarmedbyourprayersandpraises,

wecomebeforeyoutopray

fortheneedsofourworld.

IntothelightofEastermorning

weraisethosewhoarestrugglingwithillness,

withdespairovertheirlives,orwith

thebreakdownofrelationships.

MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.

MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.

IntothelightofEastermorning,

webringthoseplacesinourworld

wherewar,violence,povertyandneed

aretheexperiencesofeverydaylife.

(Theseplacesmaybenamed)

MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.

MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.

IntothelightofEastermorning,

webringtheheadlinenewsofthisweekend

(thismaybenamed):

weholdinourheartsthepain

ofthosesufferingviolence,bereavementorconflict.

MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.

MaythelightofChristshineuponthem.

AndintothelightofEastermorning

webringourselves,theprivatestruggles,

theheart’syearnings,thehiddendreams,

theunfulfilledpotential.

MaythelightofChristshineuponus.

MaythelightofChristshineuponus.AMEN.

(writtenbyAnnSiddall,andpostedonthewebsiteoftheStillpointSpirituality

Centre.http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/)

CommunionforEasterSunday(seeattachments)

HymnSuggestion

MARYMAGDALENE&OTHERS

Tune:Bunessan

1.FaithfultoJesus,servinghimalways

uphillanddowndalethroughGalilee-

womenunnoticed,quietlysupporting;

Maryandothershelpinghimbe.

2.Jesusarrested-followersscattered-

menwiththeirbigmouthscannotbefound;

womenremainingwatchJesusdying,

Maryandothersstandingtheirground.

3.Allhopenowfaded-onlyabody,

coldanddisfigured-Jesusisdead.

womenstillcaringwatchinghimburied;

Maryandothers-nothingissaid.

4.Huddledtogethercarryingspices

(stillservingJesusinacoldtomb)

womeninmourningdoingtheirduty-

Maryandotherslostinthegloom.

5.Newhopesurprises(alarming,unsettling)

"Jesusisliving-risentoday!"

Thesefriendssofaithfulcan'ttakethegoodnews;

Maryandothersrunningaway.

6.Godofrenewal,hopeandsurprises,

youlovethequietfaithofafriend:

yetyouwouldblessuswithnewbeginnings,

Maryandothersneedwhatyousend!

AFUTUREfortheFRIGHTENEND

Tune:"Youshallgoout...."

1.Onresurrectiondaythewomenranaway,

&thestoryofGod'slovewasleftuncompleted-

yettoallwhofear,risenJesuscomesnear

sothatthey'llliveouthislove.

Sothestorywillonlybecomplete,

(withthebalancejustright,theendingneat)

Jesu'sstorywillonlybecomplete,

ifweliveouthislove.

2."IfJesusyouwouldsee,thengotoGalilee",

andbegintolivethelifeyou'veleftuncompleted.

Inthedailygrind,risenJesuswe'llfind

asweallliveouthislove.

Asweworktoensurethatjustice'sdone,

asweofferourall'tillovehaswon,

theneachdaywewillknowGod'srisenSon,

asweliveouthislove.

3.Donotprocrastinate,thetimeisgettinglate,

andeachmomentmustbeusedthat'sstilluncompleted

Wecanstartrightnow-risenJesusshowshow-

letusallliveouthislove.

IfweeachfollowJesusdaybyday,

letthepresenceofGodchasefearaway,

thenourstorycompleteswhatGodwouldsay,

asweliveouthislove.

ANEASTERDAYCOMMUNIONHYMN

Tune:DayofRest

1.Thefeastbeguninshadow

isnowdiffusedwithlight;

betrayalanddenial

arethroughYourdeathputright-

nowmightyresurrection

invitesusalltoshare

asguestsaroundYourtable-

forgiven-welcomedhere!

2.LikePeterandtheothers

wefailorsneakaway;

wehelptocrucifyYou-

forgiveus,Lord,wepray-

butthroughYourresurrection,

Yourvict’ryinthestrife,

withMaryandJoanna

wenowreceivenewlife!

3.We,too,walkwithCleopas,

confusedandindespair;

today,asinEmmaus,

oh,RisenLord,benear!

Sitwithusatthistable;

setheartsonfireforYou-

letEasterjoyempow’rus

eachdayourwholelivesthrough